Combined mop and wringer



1954 A. 1.. LE FEBVRE COMBINED MOP AND WRINGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 7, 1949 INVENTOR ALFRED L. LE FEBVRE ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1954 A. L. LEFEBVRE COMBINED MOP AND WRINGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1949INVENTOR ALFRED L. LEFEBVRE ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1954 A. LE FEBVRE 2,667,653

COMBINED MOP AND WRINGER Filed Jan. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORALFRED L. LEFEBVRE BY 4/. gu 7346 TTORNEV Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE.

The Fuller Brush Company,

Hartford, Conn;-

a corporation of Connecticut Application J anuary'7, 1949, .Serial No.69,713

16 Claims.

The inventionv relates. to arcombined mop and wringer. ofv the type.comprising. a. mop. unit including, a mass of. absorbentv compressible,ma.- terial commonly referred to. as a sponge block and engageable. withthe. floor or other surfacev device or compressorplate .-.atv the. frontofthey mop unit, butthishasbeen wringing device or compressorplate, whenpcsi-- tioned atthefront, .tends to scratch .onmar furniture, baseboards. and. the :like. when the wringing device or compressor plate ispivoted at the front,

which is objectionable. During ordinary mopping, action the majorportion of the dirtthatis picked.

uplby the sponge block is at.the-front..thereof,.

and .a wringing ,or. compressingw action from frontto..rear tends. toflush the .dirtat vthefronttoward the rear and. intothe bodyofthe-sponge.

One of the objects. of the. .inventionis toprovide a combined .mopandiwringercwhichis inexpensive andis simpleinconstruction andoperationand which has its wringing. device. or.

compressor. plate at the rear of the mopunit; so asto reduce to aminimumthe.p ossiblascratching. or marring, of objectswhichmay. be.con-r tacted at the frontandso. astocausethe wringinglorcompressingactionto fihshthedirt atthe front of thespongeblock directlyforwardly and outof the saidIbl'ock; In accordance withthe invention,the wringing, device. or compressor.

platehas an ,upper.rear-inoperative.position.adj a-.-- centand belowthehandle, and it isv pivotally. movable-from the last said positiondownwardly and forwardly andupwardly, toengage and compressthe sponge.block... When. the. wringing device. or compressorplatais. so locatedand is so operatedl'itlfirst.engagestlie sponge blockat'the the normal.cleaning. action of the. spongeblock butalso during the. use ofthewring- 5 ing. device or compressor: plate; It has. been. commonpracticeto locatethe movable wringing.

objectionable, as .the-

Furthermore.

the wringing or compressing. action onthe sponge. bloclrisfram fronttorear.

lower rear edge or OOIIIBI'Z'th'GIB'Of' andthen progressivelyjcompresses .the said block from rear 'to front so that themajor portion'of-the contained Water is forced. forwardly and isexpelledi at the front.

Another. object. of the inventionistoprovideya combined mop andwringerwherein' the mop unit,, the handle and the wringing "device"constitute three separate entities adaptedto be-manufactured,distributed and soldyseparatelyrfrom"eachother and adapted" to be'assembledby the customer or user according' to requirements; Inac=cordance with the invention, a common means'is. provided for detachably.connecting both the" handle and the wringingdevice"to'tliemopunit.Preferably, the construction is suchithat' the same" connecting meanscan;serve option'allyieither to connect only the handle to" the mop-unitor to connect both the handle. and the wringing device to the mop unit.This construction makes it possible for the user'to, purchase anduseonly the mop unit andxthe' handle, and to later 'add the wringer. deviceif and when desired, and it also makes it possible'for'the userto'temporarily discard the compressor'plate when reduction in weight isdesirable. The construction also makes it possible for the mopunit,whether-'or notcombined with the. wringingde'vicepto' be'conveni entlyremoved and'replaced after wear.

Still another objectof the inventionis to pro-- vide a combined.mopand-wringer of the-type defined, wherein the wringing device orcompressor platemay be assembled-and disassembled by relativemanipulationof parts and wherein assembly and disassembly are-preventedexcept under, certain conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a subassemblyof partscomprising. a compressor plate and an attaching plate therefor, thissub-- assembly being adapted for usewith a mop handle and with a mopunit located below the handle;

With, the above and other objects inview *the invention consists in a"mopand wringer-construction embodying the novel 'andimproved tea-'-tures, constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in theclaims; the advantages of whicli= will bereadily understood and appreciated by 'those skilled in-the art.

The invention will :be" clearly" understood fronr the accompanyingdrawings: illustrating a construction embodying the: several features ofthe invention in their preferred "form's and' the-foblowing, detaileddescription; of the construction therein shown:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the mop and wringer with certainparts shown in section and with the compression device in retracted orinoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mop and wringer.

Fig. 3 Ba view in side elevation illustrating, in disassembled relation,the mop unit, compression device, handle and the means for securingthese elements together.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation with the compression device inoperative or compressing position with relation to the mass ofcompressible material embodied in the mop unit.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the mop unit and handle with thecompression device omitted.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFig. l.

Fig. '7 is a plan view illustrating the attaching plate through whichthe compression device is mounted on the mop unit .and a portion of saiddevice, with the parts in positions ready to be assembled.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 parts partly assembled.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 illustrating the partscompletely assembled.

, Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation illustrating the mop unit andcertain parts adjacent the said unit with the parts of the compressiondevice in their limiting retracted positions determined by theengagement of said device with the mop handle.

illustrating the Fig. ll is a detail sectional view taken substantiallyon the line I l-l l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line l2-|2of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line l3--!3 of Fig. 9.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings of thisapplication, the mop and wringer comprises a mop unit indicatedgenerally at iii, a handle indicated at 2 attached to said mop unit anda compression or wringer device indicated at I4.

. The mop unit includes a backing plate It and a mass 58 of absorbentcompressible material secured to said backing plate at the bottomthereof. The backing plate 55 extends transversely of the directions ofnormal mopping movement and has upper and lower faces and front and rearedges. The absorbent material is preferably consists of a rectangularprismatic block of cellulose sponge mounted in a shallow channel ortrough in the backing plate it formed by the narrow flanges 2 0 and 22on the plate bent at right angles to the body of the plate. The block ofsponge is securely attached to the backing plate by a suitable cementand it extends from end to end of the said plate.

The handle of the mop comprises a body portion or shaft 24 which may bemade of wood, and a hollow socket 26 preferably made of sheet metal inwhich the lower end of the shaft 24 is secured.

The handle is attached to the mop unit to extend upwardly and rearwardlytherefrom at an angle of about 45 to the upper face of the backingplate, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The handle is attached to the mopunit by securing the lower end of the socket 25 (Fig. l) of the handledetachably to the said backing plate E6.

The compression device comprises a pressure or wringer member shiftablyconnected with the backing plate and arranged to be moved from aninoperative position relatively remote from the mass 18 of compressiblematerial into engagement with said mass thereby cause the discharge ofwater or other liquid therefrom. This pressure member, in the preferredform of the invention illustrated in this case, includes a compressorplate 28 of rectangular form corresponding with the form of the lowerface of the block is of compressible material and made of sheet metal.The plate is shown as provided with a series of holes 30 through whichsome of the liquid squeezed from the mass :8 may be discharged. Theplate is mounted in a frame 32 consisting of a cylindrical metallic rodbent in rectangular form corresponding in dimensions to the dimensionsof the plate 28. The plate is shown as connected with the bent rod frameby marginal extensions as on the ends and one side of the plate bentabout the corresponding parts of said frame.

The pressure or wringer member is hingedly or pivotally connected to thebacking plate so that it may be swung from the inoperative positionshown in Fig. l to operative or compressing po-- sition with relation tothe mass l8. To this end, the rod which forms the frame 32 of saidmember is provided with offset arms 36 and 38 extending obliquely awayfrom the edge of the main portion of the compressor plate nearer thebacking plate and also downwardly (Fig. l) in a direction oblique to theplane of said compressor plate, and with inwardly bent axially alignedend pintles Gil and d2 substantially parallel with the portion of saidframe more remote from the mop unit, each pintle all and 42 forming oneelement of a hinge. These pintles are constructed and arranged to engagerespectively in corresponding tubular hinge elements or members 114 and46 formed on a second or attaching plate 48 preferably made of sheetmetal and fixed to the backing plate 16. This second or attaching platehas the form or outline shown inFigs. 2 and 7 and the hinge elements 44and 4B are produced by bending into tubular form portions of theprojections 49 extending from said plate.

The rod which forms the bent rod frame for the pressure plate 28 isprovided with an extension 50 forming a loop having substantiallyparallel sides extending, in general, at right angles to the portions ofthe rectangular frame of the compressor plate more remote from the mopunit and the hinge axis. This extension constitutes a handle for thecompressor plate by which the same may an upper rear inoperativeposition adjacent and below the handle as shown in Fig. 1 to anoperative position in compressing engagement with the compressible massl8 as shown in Fig. 4 and from the said operative position back to thesaid inoperative position.

In moving from the said inoperative position to the said operativeposition, the compressor plate moves downwardly and forwardly andupwardly, and it first engages the sponge block 18 at the lower rearedge or corner thereof and it then progressively compresses the saidblock from rear to front so that the major portion of the water or otherliquid is forced forwardly and is expelled at the front. By means of theoffset arms 36 and 38 the said compressor plate, when in its finalcompressing position as shown in Fig. 4, is offset downwardly from thesecond plate M3 by a distance substantially less than the initialvertical thickness of the sponge block i8. This offset enables thecompressor plate to press the to compress the same and be readilyshifted from sp nee.-blockl-,.tol the. requiitediesteat-buir tendstto.

pret rit excessiv lcomnr sien thereof.

Inlthepresent con truction thetmop unit, com:

pr si n r. w inser. -.device; and; handle, are, se-

ured to ether. in a; novel. and. improved manner to enam mhe.compression. derice. to be. readilr detached.-, so.- that, the, men unitwith handle at..-

tached, may. be; used, wi h.out...said;com ressionv device; The;construction..alsoenahlesthe com.- pression device to be quigklxandgeasily restored; to theas emblp andsecuredin. operative position...

shown. the; I second, onattachin .ate, 4a:

upontwhich; he mpr s rvplate is. in ed and.

the-socket 2630f. the moplhandl'e. arebothdetach:

ably; secured ,to, therbackingi late [610i ,themon.

uniaby.amattachingmeans which. is..constri1cted: to.-. secure: both the.attaching; plate. and; socket. 25, to, the, backing.- plate; or... to.securethe. socket; to the backing plate while the attaching plate isdetached.

The-second or attaching, plate, 48 preferably,-

has. the form show-n.-

pl n- Fi s. Land] and;

in side;elevationin Fig.-,1 0, andtheprojections .49,

upon which are formed-thehinge elements. 441 and. w nt at. substantiallyish tan les .to.

the body of the plates. The. lttaching plate is applied in faceetog-facecontact with thelbacking.

plate IBFin the, position shoWnJnFigs. 1 and. 2j. with, the. proi ection.491. engagin the .outer. .faQe

oi; the flange. 22-. on the-backinaplata, To assist.

furt e i c tin and holding...the...second;. or. attaching plate in -thepro er. position with. re-

lation. to-the thanking: plate; I 6, the. said. .bacl ing plate ;is.formed. with longitudinal; ribs. 52 havin an. inverted veshapa. in.cross. section. which .engage; inthe channels. orte fpaveson the. inside.of'

corresponding ribs, 54 .formed; in... the attaching. plate, theSeribs;preferably having. an. arcuate.

ro i ns Thus-.the. second, plate has a downwardly opening recess withinone. .or, both.

of the; ribs 54, for receivingand. approximately fittinga portionofthe-backing plate, that is,

one or both of the ribs 52 thereon. Theengagement of the said portionor. portions. within the saidrecess or, recesses serveato prevent.forward.

orrearward movement, of the backing... plate. relatively to the secondplate.

The... means for securing the:v attaching, plate to thebackingplatecomprises a threaded .mem

her-extending throu h ene erturein the se nd.

plate. an ens-a ed: with; the-hackin plate of. h mopun ta Asshownthersaid threaded-mem er.

isa-stud-Sfi -havingg =its:loweh end. (Fig... 1.) securely fixed in: thebaekina,p at end arran e -tapas: hro h, .r1.:.0 n. ns,.60 nt atachmsplat -v relation to said plate,

walls of the socket member, Qtthe lo.wer..end .of,

saidmember, are formed. with. .recesses .6211and projections M -which.interiitwith. the ribs. 54 on. the attachingplatemand.thespacesl-between said; ribs; and .at. the outer; sides ofsthe.ribato-ldcate. the socket member properly.with relationto. the.attaching plate and. to prevents relative turning movementofthemopnitendlhandle. a out the. axis f the stud 5. when.thep r.tsarefastened together; The. so ket m mber. s, eld. s curelyn; 1 mpingeneaee nt .w th.-the attachinaplete by means of a wing nut 66threaded'onthe stud? 5 said nut engaeine the...v central part. Btoftth7.5.

lower end. pcrtionlofithet.sacket.,.member..whichl bridges the ribs 54"on therattaching.lplater. The. pressure. of this-nut,fixeslthesockehmember .securely; to. thev backina platel I Land. clamps the...

I. attaching. plate between ,saidsooket member. and.

are .allsecurely heldassembled relationhy thesecuring means 56, 66'. Thesaid attaching plate, fifllconstitutesla head? t0.-.Which,.the:-.saidmop unit. andthe said. compressor: plate and, ,the. said. handle arevnormally attached.

The attaching. plate. and the, compressor. plate. with its, handlecollectively,constitutesa come pressor unit. whichmay, .bQMGlX. readilydetached whenv it is esired .to,.-.usethe mop without. the last. saidunit.. In. detaching. the, compression. unit,. the wingnut .66.. is.unscrewedtfrom. the. stud. 55. and the socket wand. attaching.plate.4.8}..ar.e removed from=therstudn The socket member, isvs thenplaced. backover, thestud and. engaged with, the backing. plate as.shown. inEig h 5,,and. the .nut 66 threaded .back onthetstud, 5i-.to...clamp the socket member to H the. backing plate the; lower end.of. the socket. member .interfitting with. the ribs. on the backingplateandthe spaces between, and at. the outer sides. of. said...ribs,.asshownin. said figure. The removal ofthecompressionunit... lightenssubstantially; the T mop and. enables the same to be. manipulated.withgreat facility,

The present; constructioncomprises improved means for. holding. thecompressor plate .orvcompression device in inoperative. position. Theloop 56 constituting the .-handle..o thecompression device, as statedabove, isip rovided .withsubstantially parallel sides and these sidee-pontionsof. the loop are: formed. with: \L-shaned bonds. or. humps511% (see .Fig. .3); spaced somewhatlessthan the diameter of the shaft24 of the handleofthe; mop. When. the compressionldevice is.= movedfrom. operative position. toits limitingjnoperative or out-of-the-way;positionshown. iii-Fig. 1, the bends 50 in the side elements of theloop50 engage the shaft. 24-before:thecompression .device reaches its 5final. positioniandlare, forced: apart and when the handleoftheicomnression.,devicereaches its limiting position, with ther outerend of the loopaeng-aging the shaftl lt-as-illustrated in Figs, 1and.6,. the bendsffillfi" embrace-@the. shaft 24 as; shown in thelatter; figure; and 1 are held yieldingly; thereagainst:bspthaspringpressure of thes bends ainst; the-.ashaftmproducedl by theyspring of. themetall. Thezspressure of the, bends; against. the shaft.and;,thezcons.equent."frictional.

resistance to movementsof thesloopaor:handleila holds the.compression:devicevin; as reliable manher. from. being. displaced duringthe use of the mop; When it is-desired.towwringsthe'liquid from: theabsorbent compressible-material of; themop; the handle 50 may be quicklyand easily disen gaged' manually from the-shaft= -'242 The attachingplate and*thecompression device are shown as; so constructedandarranged" that they maybe assembled inoperative -relationby a simpleeasily performed :relative manipulation: .oizthe-same:Means:;is;also:proyided'forrlockmgg:

game;

these parts in assembled relation when the mopis completely assembled.

In assembling the attaching plate 48 and the compression device, theseparts are placed in the relative positions shown in Fig. 7 with thehinge elements 40 and 42 on the compression device respectively in axialalignment with the hinge elements 44 and 46 on the attaching plate andwith the hinge elements and the parts adjacent the hinge elements on thecompression device and theattaching plate respectively in the relativeangular positions shown in Fig. 13 and the attaching plate andcompression device are relatively manipulated to shift the compressiondevice with relation to the attaching plate axially of the hingeelements in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7.

To enable the hinge element 42 to telescope within the tubular hingeelement 46 during this relative movement of the parts, the portion 38 ofthe bent rod frame at or adjacent the hinge element 42 is formed with acrease or groove 16 (see Fig. 13) to receive the margin 12 of the hingeelement 46. Thus, with the parts in the angular positions shown in Fig.13, during the relative movement of the compression device and theattaching plate to shift the said device in the direction of the arrow,Fig. '7, with relation to said plate, the groove 10 allows the hingemember 42 to be engaged in the tubular hinge member 46, the margin 12 ofthe latter member passing through said groove during the said relativemovement of the compression device and the attaching plate. Fig. 8 showsthe attaching plate and the compression device after having been movedrelatively axially of the hinge elements from the position shown in Fig.7 part way to final assembled relation, the margin 12 of the hingemember 46 then engaging in the groove I6 in the portion 38 of the bentrod frame. Fig. 9 shows the attaching plate and compression device afterhaving been moved to their final relative axial positions by thecontinued relative movement axially of these parts to shift thecompression device'with relation to the attaching plate in the directionof the arrow, Fig. 7, from the position shown in Fig. 8.

Thus the attaching plate and compression device may be quickly andeasily assembled by a simple readily executed relative manipulation ofthese parts.

The present construction comprises means for preventing the compressiondevice and attaching plate from being moved relatively to locate thehinge members. 42 and 46 in the relative angular positions shown in Fig.13 when the head, compression device and handle of the mop are assembledand secured together in operative relations.

As indicated above, when the compression device is swung into fullyretracted position as shown in Fig. 1, its movement is limited by theengagement of the outer portion of the handle 56 of said device with theshaft 24 of the mop handle as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. With thecompression device in this position the hinge members s2 and 46 and theparts of the bent rod frame and attaching plate adjacent said hingemembers are located in the relative angular positions shown in Fig. 11.When the compression device occupies this position, said device isprevented from being shifted axially in a direction opposite to thatindicated by the arrow, Fig. 7, with relation to the attaching plate, todisassemble the compression device and attaching plate, by theengagement of the marginal portion 12 of the hinge member 46 with thearm 38 of the bent rod frame. The mop handle therefore locks thecompression device from being swung into a position in which it may bedisassembled from the attaching plate.

If it is desired to disassemble the compression device from theattaching plate for the purpose of repair or the substitution of parts,the mop handle is detached from the mop and the compression device thenmay be swung into position to locate the hinge members 42 and 46 and theparts of the attaching plate and the compression device adjacent saidhinge members in the relative positions shown in Fig. relative positionsshown in this figure, the compression device may be detached from theattaching plate by relatively manipulating the compression device andplate to shift the compression device in a direction opposite to thatindicated by the arrow, Fig. 7.

When the compression device is swung from the retracted position shownin Fig. 1 toward or into operative position the arm 38 of the bent rodframe assumes positions such as those indicated in dot-and-dash lines inFig. 11. When the compression device occupies one of these positions,said device is prevented from being shifted axially in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow, Fig. 7, with relation to theattaching plate by the engagement of the arm 38 of the bent rod framewith the adjacent edge of the hinge member 46. When the compressiondevice is in any angular position with relation to the attaching plate,relative movement of the compression device and the attaching plate to.

shift the compression device in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7, isprevented by the engagement of the arm 36 of the bent rod frame with theadjacent edge of the hinge member 44.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and havingspecifically described a construction embodying the several features ofthe invention in their preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. In a mop including a handle and a head secured to said handle andpresenting a front edge forward of said handle in relation to directionof mop advance under normal mopping action, and a rear edge at theopposite side of said handle, a compressible sponge block releasablysecured to said head and presenting at the front of said head a dirtaccumulating face of substantial depth and at the rear of said head arear face, and having a bottom working face presenting at the rear anedge displaced below said head, a presser element pivoted adjacent therear edge of said head to swing about an axis fixed relative to saidhead and above said bottom working face and at right angles to saidhandle, said presser element having a pivot connecting portion and asponge pressing portion in angular relation to said pivot connectingportion and spaced thereby from said axis a distance less than thethickness of said sponge at the rear face, and an operating handle forsaid presser element to swing said element against the undersurface ofsaid sponge to compress said sponge against said head with said spongepressing portion first contacting said sponge at said rearward edgebelow said head and displacing said latter edge forwardly andprogressively compressing said sponge from rear to front while leavingthe front face of said sponge substantially unobstructed to, flush dirtaccumulations out said front face.

2. In a mop including 13. With said parts in the a handle and a headsecured to said handle and presenting a front portion forward of saidhandle in relation-to direction of mop advanceunder normal moppingaction, and a rear'portion at the opposite side of said handle, acompressible sponge block releasably secured to 'said'head and'presentingat'the front of said head a front dirt accumulating face andat the rear of said head arear facepand having abottom working facepresenting at the rear'an edge displaced below said head, apresserelement pivoted at the rear of said head adjacent the edge *thereoftoswing initially-rearwardly'of said handle about an axis fixed relativeto said head and above said bottom working face and at right angles tosaid'hand'le against the rear face whereby upon swinging said presserelement :rearwardly said sponge .is engaged initially at the rear loweredge below said head and compressed progressively from back to front toforce water stored in reservoir insaid sponge iout'said substantiallyunobstructedforward face.

.3. A mop including a handle and ahead secured to said handle andpresenting .a front portion forward of said handle in relation to direc-'tion of mop advance under normal mopping action and a rear portion atthe opposite side of said handle, a sponge block at the underside of thehead and extending continuously from end to end thereof which block hasa front and rear in respect to said head and a bottom Working facepresenting at the rear an edge displaced below said head, means forreleasably holding the sponge block in normally fixed relationship withthe head which means .is constructed and arranged to enable the spongeblock in itsentirety to be separated from the head by a single movementin .one direction, a presser plate having a pivotal connection at therear of said head to swing about a single axis which is in fixedrelationship to said 'plate and to saidhead and which is above saidbottom working face and Substantially at right angles ,tosaid handle, asecond handle for swinging the presser plate about the said fixedaxiswhich'handleis directly andrigidfly connected with the plate atthe edgethereof remote from the said axis, andmeans to maintain said presserplate in a mopping position above and in angular relation to said blockand to maintain the second handle adjacent andbelow the first saidhandle, the relative disposition of .said pivotal connectionrandpresserplate positioning saidiplate upon swinging movement from moppingposition to firstengage'.only'the rearward lower block edge "below saidhead andto thereafter compress said block in a direction 'forwardly andagainst the underside of said head progressively from rear to front ofsaid head "to flush said'blook towardsthe'front.

4. Amop and wringercomprising in combination, a mop :unit. including abacking plateextending transversely, ofthe directions ofnormal moppingmovemenuand having front and .rear ryedges which. mop imitalso includes,a mass. .of absorbent: compressibleematerialexten ding continuouslyfrom end to end of the backing plate and permanently secured thereto atthe bottom thereof a second plateimmed-iately above the 'ment about atransverse horizontaI axis adjacent the rear edge hereof which axis isin fixed relation to each of the last said plates, thesaid compressorplate being movable from an upper rear position adjacent and below thehandle downwardly and forwardly and -upwardl-yto =a final position inwhich it engages and compresses the said mass" of compressible materialand the said compressor plate having a main portion which in the lastsaid position is offset down- 'wardly from the second plate by adistance substantially less than the initial thickness of the said massof compressible material, means for yieldably holding the compressorplate in its said upper rear position, and a second handle fixedlyconnected directly with the compressor plate for pivotally moving it asaforesaid which-second handle is connected with the'compressor 'pl'ateatthe edge thereof which is at therear when the plate is in its said upperrear position and which handle is so vrelated to the plate that itis-adjacent'and at least partly below the mop handle when the plate isin its last said position.

5. A mop and wringer comprising in combination, a mop unit including abacking plate extending transversely of the directions of normal"mopping movement and having front and-rear edges which mop unit alsoincludes 'a mass of absorbent compressible material extending-continuously from end to end of the backing plate and permanentlysecured thereto at the bottom thereof, a second plate immediately abovethe backing plate, amop handle including a socket engaging the secondplate which "handle extends upwardly and rearwardly from the second 1plate in normally fixed relation thereto, manually operablemeans forreleasably holding the mop unit in normally fixed relationship with thesecond plate which means is constructed and arranged to enable'the mopunit to be separatedin*-its entirety from the secondplate by a-singlemovement in one direction, a compressor plate connected with the secondplate-for pivotalmovement about a transverse horizontal axis-adjacentthe rear edgethereof which axis is in fixedrelationto each of the lastsaidplates'the said compressor plate having an upper rear positionadjacent and below the'handle and-being movable plate thatit-is-adjacentand at least partly belowthe noon handle when; the plateis in its last said j position, and means f r ;f rictional ly connectingthe compressor releasably holding the said plate andthe second;platewith the mob fha nd-le ifor "handle in their upperrearposition.

. ship therewith forming 6. A mo the second plate in normally fixedrelation thereto, stud and nut means for releasably holding the mop unitin fixed relationship with the second plate which means enables the mopunit to be separated from the second plate by movement in the downwarddirection, the stud of the said means being secured to the backing plateand projecting upwardly therefrom through an aperture in the secondplate and the nut of the said means detachably engaging the stud abovethe second plate, a compressor plate pivotally connected with the secondplate for movement about a transverse horizontal axi adjacent the rearedge thereof which axis is in fixed relation to each of the last saidplates, the said compressor plate having an upper rear position adjacentthe handle and being movable downwardly and forwardly and upwardly toengage and compress the said mass of compressible material, means foryieldably holding the compressor plate in its said upper rear position,and a second handle connected with the compressor plate for pivotallymoving it as aforesaid, which second handle is connected with the plateat the edge thereof which is at the rear when the plate is in its saidupper rear position and which handle is so related to the plate that itis adjacent and at least partly below the mop handle when the plate isin its last said position.

'7. A mop and wringer comprising in combination, a mop unit including abacking plate extending transversely of the directions of normal moppingmovement and having front and rear edges which mop unit also includes asponge block permanently secured to the backing plate at the bottomthereof, a second plate immediately above the backing plate, means forreleasably holding the mop unit in normally fixed relationship with thesecond plate, a mop handle connected with the second plate and extendingupwardly and rearwardly therefrom in normally fixed relation thereto,means near the rear edge of the second plate and in fixed relationtwotransversely spaced hinge elements having aligned apertures for thereception of pintles, a single wire bent near its ends to constitute twooppositely extending transversely aligned pintles entered in the saidhinge elements on the second plate, the said wire having a portion bentto constitute a frame for a compressor plate which frame is movable toan upper position adjacent and below'the mop handle and the said wirehaving an additional portion bent at the edge of the frame portionremote from the pintles to constitute a compressor plate handle whichcompressor plate handle is movable to an upper position adjacent and atleast partly below the mop handle, and a compressor plate secured totheframe portion of the wire which compressor plate is movable by thecompressor plate handle from an upper position adjacent and below themop handle downwardly and forwardly and upwardly to a final positionsponge block.

8. A mop and wringer comprising in com-- bination, a mop unit includinga backing plate extending transversely of the directions of normalmopping movement and having front and rear edges which mop unit alsoincludes a sponge block permanently secured to the backing plate at thebottom thereof, a second plate immediately above the backing plate,means for releasably holding the mop unit in normally fixed relationshipwith the second plate, a mop handle connected with the second plate andextending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom in normally fixed relationthereto, means near the rear edge of the second plate and in fixedrelationship therewith forming two transversely spaced hinge elementshaving aligned apertures for the reception of pintles, a single wirebent near its ends to constitute two oppositely extending transverselyaligned pintles entered in the said hinge elements on the second plate,the said wire having a portion bent to constitute a frame for acompressor plate and the said wire having an additional portion bent toconstitute a compressor plate handle extending from the said frameportion at the edge thereof remote from the pintles which compressorplate handle is movable to an upper position adjacent and partly belowthe mop handle and which compressor plate handle portion is further bentto provide two upwardly extending and oppositely disposed humps forembracing and frictionally engaging the mop handle when the compressorplate handle is in its said upper position, and a compressor platesecured to the frame portion of the wire which compressor plate ismovable by the compressor plate handle from an upper position adjacentand below the mop handle downwardly and forwardly and. upwardly to afinal position in which it engages and compresses the said sponge block.

9. A mop and wringer comprising in combination, a mop unit including abacking plate extending transversely of the directions of normal moppingmovement and having front and rear edges which mop unit also includes asponge block permanently secured to the backing plate at the bottomthereof, a second plate immediately above the backing plate, means forreleasably holding the mop unit in normally fixed relationship with thesecond plate, a mop handle connected with the second plate and extendingupwardly and rearwardly therefrom in normally fixed relation thereto,means near the rear edge of the second plate and in fixed relationshiptherewith forming two transversely spaced hinge elements having alignedapertures for the reception of pintles which hinge elements are spacedsubstantially downwardly from the said second plate, a single wire bentnear its ends to constitute two oppositely extending transverselyaligned pintles entered in the said hinge elements on the second plate,the said wire having a porsubstantially upwardly from the axis of thepintles and the said wire having an additional portion bent at the edgeof the frame portion remote from the pintles to constitute a compressorplate handle which compressor plate handle is movable to an upperposition adjacent and at least partly below the mop handle, and a emotons 13 compressor plate secured to the frame portion of the wire whichcompressor plate is movable by the compressor plate handle from an upperposition adjacent and below the mop handle downwardly and forwardly andupwardly to a final position in which it engages and compresses the saidsponge block.

10. A compressor plate and attaching plate assembly, for optional usewith a mop handle and with a mop .unit located below the handle andincluding a sponge block and an elongated upper backing plate adapted tobe connected to said handle, the said assembly comprising: elongatedattaching plate having an upperface for detachably engaging the bottomof the handle and having a lower face for detachably engaging the top ofthe backing plate and also having means for use in optionally attachingthe same to said mop unit and handle, means along one of the longeredges of the said elongated attaohing plate and at the opposite endsthereof and in fixed relationship therewith constituting; two spacedhinge elements having aligned apertures for the reception of pintles, anelongated compressor plate having aligned pintles near one of the longeredges thereof and in fixed relationship therewith and entered in thesame hinge elements on the elongated attaching plate so that theelongated compressor plate is rotatably movable relatively to theelongated attaching plate about the axis of the pintles, and a handlerigidly connected with the elongated compressor plate at the sidethereof remote from the pintles for rotatably moving the elongatedcompressor plate relatively to the elongated attaching plate.

11. A compressor plate and attaching plate assembly for use with a mop,comprising: a normally horizontal transverse attaching plate adapted forthe attachment thereto at the bot tom thereof of a mop unit including asponge block, means along one transverse edge of the said plate near theends thereof and in fixed relationship therewith constituting twotransversely spaced hinge elements having aligned apertures for thereception of pintles, a single wire bent near its ends to constitute twooppositely extending transversely aligned pintles entered in the saidhinge elements on the plate, the said wire having a portion bent toconstitute a generally rectangular frame for a compressor plate andhaving an additional portion bent at the edge of the frame portionremote from the pintles and extending longitudinally from the last saidedge to constitute a compressor plate handle, and the compressor platehandle portion of the wire being further bent to provide two upwardlyextending and oppositely disposed humps for embracing and irictionallyengaging a mop handle and a generally rectangular compressor platesecured to the frame portion of the wire which compressor plate ismovable by the compressor plate handle about the axis of the saidpintles to a position in which it is engageable with the sponge block ofa mop unit attached to the attaching plate.

12. A mop and wringer comprising in combination, a mop unit including abacking plate extending transversely of the directions of normal moppingmovement and also including a sponge block permanently secured to thebacking plate at the bottom thereof, an attaching plate detachablyengageable with the backing plate at the top thereof and inpredetermined normally fixed relationship therewith, a compressor platefor the sponge block pivotally connected'with 'th'e attachihgiplateal'ong "one edge of'the said attaching plate and at the oppositeends thereof for rotation about a single transverse vaxis which is in.fixed relationship with the attaching plate and with the compressorplate and which is adjacenttheyrear edge of the backing plate when. theattaching plate is in the said predeterminedfixed relationship, a handleincluding a socket detachably engageable with the attaching plate at thetop thereof in a predeterminedfixed relationship with the saidattaching. plate and with the said backing plate, and a device connectedwith the backing plate and engageable'wi'th the handle. socketfordetachably holding the handle and the attaching plate in theirsaidl'predeterminecl fixed relationships with the backing plate.

13. A mop and wringer comprising in combination, a mop unit including abacking plate extending transversely of the'directions of normal moppingmovement and also including a sponge block permanently secured to thebacking plate at the bottom thereof, an attaching plate detachablyengageable with the backing plate at the top thereof and inpredetermined normally fixed relationship therewith, a com- ,pressorplate for the sponge block pivotally connected. with the attachingplatealong one edge of saidattaching plate and at the opposite endsthereof for rotation about a single transverse axis which is in fixedrelationship with the attaching plate and with the compressor plate andwhich is adjacent the rear edge of the backing plate when the attachingplate is in the said predetermined fixed relationship, a handleincluding a socket detachably engageable with the attaching plate at thetop thereof in a predetermined fixed relationship with the saidattaching plate and with the said backing plate, the said socket beingalso directly engageable with the backing plate in approximately thesame relationship therewith, and a device connected with the backingplate and engageable with the handle socket for detachably holding thehandle and the attaching plate in their said predetermined fixedrelationships with the backing plate, the last said device beingconstructed and arranged to hold the socket in direct engagement withthe backing plate independently of the attaching plate when theattaching plate and the compressor plate are detached.

14. A mop having a handle, a mop unit attached to said handle andcomprising a mass of absorbent compressible material, a wringing deviceshiftably mounted on said mop unit, interfitting supporting structuresrespectively attached to the wringing device and the mop unit andconstructed and arranged to be assembled and connected together byrelative manipulation of said structures to assemble the wringing devicein operative shiftable relation with the mop unit, and means on the mophandle for preventing said supporting structures from being disassembledby said reverse relative manipulation of said structures when the mophandle is attached to the mop unit.

15. A mop having a handle, a mop unit attached to said handle andcomprising a mass of compressible material, a wringing device pivoted tosaid mop unit, interfitting hinge members respectively attached to themop unit and said device and constructed to be assembled to assemble thewringing device in operative shiftable relation to the mop unit bysliding relatively the hinge members axially into operative relationwhen said members are in a predetermined angular relation about the axisthereof, means for preventing the hinge members from being moved axiallyrelatively in the opposite direction to disassemble the mop unit andwringing device when the hinge members are in any other angularrelation, and means for preventing the hinge members from being movedinto said angular relation after the mop has been assembled.

16. A mop having a handle, a mop unit attached to said handle andcomprising a mass of compressible material, a wringing device pivoted tosaid mop unit, interfitting hinge members respectively attached to themop unit and said device and constructed to be assembled to assemble thewringing device in operative shiftable relation to the mop unit bysliding relatively the hinge members axially into operative rela tionwhen said members are in a predetermined angular relation about the axisthereof, means for preventing the hinge members from being moved axiallyrelatively in the opposite direction to disassemble the mop unit andwringing device when the hinge members are in any other angularrelation, and means on the mop handle for preventing the hinge membersfrom being moved into said angular relation when the handle has beenattached to the mop unit.

ALFRED L. LE1 FEBVRE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number5 592,718 883,432 1,502,148 1,761,180 1,789,328

Number Name Date Thompson et a1. Oct. 26, 1897 Traeger Mar. 31, 1908Magaton July 22, 1924 Cave et al. June 3, 1930 Welling Jan. 20, 1931Benedict Feb. 28, 1933 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 Sendler Sept. 14, 1937Vaughn Apr. 11, 1939 Vaughn July 11, 1939 Rader Apr. 9, 1940 Lux Nov.19, 1940 Reynolds July 7, 1942 Greenleaf et a1. July 18, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 26, 1915 Great Britain Mar. 17,1902 Austria Sept. 16, 1934 Germany Mar. 30, 1935

